The Chinese (1989)

Overview

Originally produced in 1988 and 1989, but blocked from being released after June 4th. A large-scale Chinese documentary series that spanned 100s of interviews in nearly 20 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions. It was completed in early 1989, and each of its parts run roughly 50 minutes. The titles of each part: Family, Fertility, Farmers, Youth, Minority, Women, Artists, Kung Fu, and Mission. The series, according to production notes written by screenwriter Zhu Xiaoyang, "reflects the life and fate of contemporary Chinese people, their behaviors, concepts, and customs; explores the influence of traditional culture and foreign cultures on modern Chinese people; and describes the joy and hard work, hardship, and perseverance, as well as exploration and yearning, of the Chinese people." Youth, Kung Fu, Artists, and Minority are the only surviving parts of this series.